TeachersFirst's Hurricane Resources
This collection of reviewed resources from TeachersFirst is selected to help teachers and students understand hurricanes and the historic events surrounding major hurricanes. Explore these resources during a unit on weather or disasters and include related projects and classroom activities. Classrooms in hurricane-prone areas may want to stop to observe anniversaries of local hurricane history or even to conduct local history projects in conjunction with some of these starter resources. Turn frightening natural disasters into positive learning using the background on these helpful sites.
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Skype a Scientist - Sarah McAnulty, Ph.D and David Jenkins, Ph.D.
Grades
K to 12
tag(s): scientists (63), skype (2)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the opportunities shared on this site to connect with scientists in many different subject areas. For example, use the filters and search bar to locate scientists in the field of earthquakes, hurricanes, or animals to enhance your science lessons. Help students prepare for virtual visits with scientists using a virtual whiteboard such as Stickies.io, reviewed here to add sticky notes with suggestions for questions to ask your scientist as you brainstorm ideas for participating in the activity. Create a second whiteboard for use during the session so that students can share information they have learned. As a final activity and to extend learning, use Site123, reviewed here to create a website that shares information learned from this experience and additional information students learn through research-based upon this experience. When complete, share a link to your website with your scientist!You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Hurrican Ian Case Study - Internet Geography
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): florida (11), hurricanes (32), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Include this article with your other resources for teaching about hurricanes and weather to provide first-hand information on the path and impacts of recent storms. Curate your weather and hurricane resources in one place using Symbaloo, reviewed here, then share the Symbaloo link with students to access information quickly. Extend student understanding of how hurricanes develop by asking them to explore the hurricane simulator tool found at SciJinks: It's All About the Weather!, reviewed here. Extend learning by creating a FigJam, reviewed here as a class or with groups of students that include a slide for each hurricane category. Ask students to add information to the appropriate slides, such as named hurricanes, wind speed, date, and damage estimates.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Mensa for Kids - Mensa Foundation
Grades
K to 9tag(s): africa (142), colors (63), genetics (81), geometric shapes (135), gifted (65), hurricanes (32), literature (217), probability (97), STEM (284), stories and storytelling (51), writing (324)
In the Classroom
Enrollment in Mensa isn't required to take advantage of the many resources found on this site for all students. Use the reading lists as a starting point for stocking your class library or a student reading list for the current school year. Encourage students to complete the reading list and return to Mensa for a free t-shirt. Incorporate the lesson plans into your existing curriculum, then differentiate learning as you adapt to student needs. For example, use the Book Review Writing lesson to help students understand the difference between reviews and reports. This lesson also includes specific information on what to have with book reports. Begin by teaching this lesson in small groups, then use FigJam, reviewed here, to create a frame for each of the main topics. Enhance student learning by asking students to add sticky notes with their observations and thoughts. Have your group work together to share their book review using a simple to use blogging tool such as Telegraph, reviewed here. Extend learning further by creating a class podcast sharing book reviews created through the lesson process found on Mensa for Kids. Buzzsprout, reviewed here, is a free tool for creating and publishing podcasts that is appropriate for students of all ages. Use Buzzsprout to record and share book reviews throughout the school year.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Disaster Fact Sheets - FEMA
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): disasters (37), earthquakes (44), fire safety (16), floods (10), heat (15), hurricanes (32), snow (16), tornadoes (14), tsunamis (15), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site for use during your weather unit as an introduction to types of severe weather. One of the fact sheets discusses home fires and is perfect to include with Red Ribbon Week activities. After sharing disaster facts with students, ask students to create word clouds using vocabulary terms related to any specific type of disaster. Improve student learning by using a site like Word It Out, reviewed here, to easily create custom word clouds. Upon completion of your unit, ask students to create a book sharing their tips and advice for dealing with disasters. Reshape and redefine learning by using an interactive book creation tool like Book Creator, reviewed here. Book Creator offers tools for making online books that include images, videos, audio, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Extreme Event - Koshland Science Museum
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): critical thinking (118), disasters (37), earthquakes (44), floods (10), game based learning (182), hurricanes (32), logic (163), problem solving (224)
In the Classroom
Use the materials found on Extreme Event as a hands-on lesson in problem-solving, short and long term planning, and building community. Use an online tool such as Interactive Three Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here, to compare and contrast different strategies needed to solve problems in different crisis situations. Challenge students to create a brochure or newsletter sharing their findings. Are you integrating technology in your class? Instead of the traditional paper brochure, enhance student learning by using Marq, reviewed here, or if you are more experienced use Sway, reviewed here, and create a newsletter. If you complete this activity with different classes, share results from the different games as part of your discussions on your problem-solving decisions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SciJinks: Its All About Weather! - NOAA/NASA
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): atmosphere (22), careers (141), hurricanes (32), oceans (149), science fairs (20), scientific method (48), scientists (63), seasons (37), space (217), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Although geared toward middle school students and educators, anyone who teaches weather will want to take the time to explore this site for student and teacher resources. From the top right menu find the Educators section for activities, science fair ideas, and content aligned to standards. Share a link to games and activities on classroom computers and your class website. Upon completing activities, have students create an online or printed comic about an element of weather, climate, meteorology, or any aspect of Earth science. Use a tool such as Printable Comic Strip Templates, reviewed here, for a nontech rough and final draft. If you're new to using technology with your students, or teach younger students enhance their learning and augment techology use with ToonyTool, reviewed here, for their final drafts. To to enhance learning and modify tech use in your class for more experienced, older students try Make Beliefs Comix, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Weather-Ready Nation - National Weather Service
Grades
K to 12tag(s): fire (22), floods (10), hurricanes (32), safety (69), snow (16), tornadoes (14), tsunamis (15), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Share a link to Weather-Ready Nation on classroom computers for students to explore on their own. Include information from the site during your weather unit. Discuss weather threats that are specific to your area. Take advantage of the free flyer to print and include on a classroom bulletin board. Enhance learning by having students create annotated images of weather events including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Image Annotator, reviewed here, for younger students, or Google Drawings, reviewed here. Google Drawings allows you to annotate an image with links to videos, text, websites, and more. Not familiar with Google Drawings? Watch an archived OK2Ask session to learn how to use: OK2Ask Google Drawings, here. Alternatively students could create a word cloud of the important terms they learn from this site using a tool such as WordItOut, reviewed here. Extend learning by challenging cooperative learning groups to create daily weather forecast videos using Powtoon, reviewed here, and share them on a site such as TeacherTube, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Weather Underground - Hurricane and Tropical Cyclones
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): disasters (37), hurricanes (32), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Introduce the class to the most current hurricanes forming with a projector or interactive whiteboard. Challenge students to find similar hurricanes from the past and ask them to make a prediction about the current one. Have them prove their predictions using a tool like the interactive Venn Diagram Three Circle, or the Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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When Nature Strikes: Science of Natural Hazards - NBC Learn
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): earthquakes (44), floods (10), hurricanes (32), natural disasters (16), scientists (63), tornadoes (14), tsunamis (15), volcanoes (54), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on the weather. Divide students into cooperative learning groups to explore the site. Have each group choose a video to use as a launching pad for further study. Enhance their learning with the challenge to use YiNote, reviewed here, which is a Chrome extension for taking notes online on the video while watching it. Have students create an annotated, narrated image, including text boxes and related links, using a tool such as Google Drawings, reviewed here. Not familiar with Google Drawings? Watch an archived OK2Ask session to learn how to use it: OK2Ask Google Drawings, here. Place the videos on your classroom website or blog for students to explore on their own. Flip your instruction, and have your scientists watch the videos before class time to build background knowledge. Review nonfiction reading strategies with students before reading the transcripts. Have students investigate STEM careers by researching the jobs of the scientists interviewed in the videos.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sky Diary - Chris Kidler
Grades
2 to 7This site includes advertising.
tag(s): careers (141), hurricanes (32), tornadoes (14), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Share information from the site on your interactive whiteboard during weather, career, or storm preparedness units. Challenge students to create an avatar using a photo or other image (legally permitted to be reproduced). The avatars can be used to explain the development of hurricanes or tornadoes, or severe weather safety instructions. Use a site such as Avatar Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Storms and Other Weather - University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Grades
3 to 6tag(s): air (103), atmosphere (22), climate change (93), earth (185), hurricanes (32), space (217), sun (71), weather (161)
In the Classroom
To introduce your students to this resource, use your whiteboard or projector to highlight important phrases and keywords with Kami, reviewed here. Then use Padlett, reviewed here, to create a chart for students to store those key ideas. Use the top menu bar to find enjoyable, interactive activities and games for your students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hurricane & Tropical Storm Tracking
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): hurricanes (32), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Assign a student each week to check with this site for forecasting the weather in your area. Keep a class chart using Livegap Charts, reviewed here, and have the assigned students update it weekly.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Case Study - Hurricane Andrew - University of Illinois
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): hurricanes (32), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Divide students into small groups and have them take notes about Hurricane Andrew using Memo Notepad, reviewed here. Next enhance student learning by having them take notes about Hurricane Ian - September 2022, reviewed here. Extend student learning by having them make a Padlet, reviewed here, with columns to make comparisons between the two hurricanes. Then ask them to use Padlet to create a video to explain to other students what was most significant about both hurricanes. Ask them to respond to other student's videos. This is a link to the Padlet Help section for posting video or an image.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Explanation of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale - MIStupid
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): hurricanes (32), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Allow cooperative learning groups to explore this site during a lesson on Hurricanes and their categorization. Have groups explore the site, with the intentions of summarizing the information in a multimedia presentation. To show what they have learned from this site, challenge students to create an online infographic to share using Visme, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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National Hurricane Center - US Government
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): hurricanes (32), weather (161)
In the Classroom
Use the data to determine where the most severe hurricanes occur and to determine why they occur in those areas. Research the science behind the events and reasons for the devastation. Have students create an action plan in the event of severe hurricanes or identify ways to lessen devastating effects of some of the events. Students can also research recent year's data and make comparisons of the numbers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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